Frequently Asked Questions

Courtesy of NADCAQUESTION: Are there any health benefits that come from HVAC system cleaning?ANSWER: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have been shown to act as a collection source for a variety of contaminants that have the potential to affect health, such as mold, fungi, bacteria, and very small particles of dust. The removal of such contaminants from the HVAC system and home should be considered as one component in an overall plan to improve indoor air quality.QUESTION: How can we determine if the HVAC system cleaning was effective?ANSWER: The best way to determine if the HVAC system cleaning was effective is to perform a visual inspection of the system before and after cleaning. If any dust or debris can be seen during the visual inspection, the system should not be considered cleaned. While you can perform your own visual inspection using a flash light and mirror, a professional cleaning contractor should be able to allow you better access to system components and perhaps the use of specialized inspection tools. In addition, following this post-cleaning check list can help to ensure a top quality job.QUESTION: How long should it take to clean a typical residential HVAC system?ANSWER: The amount of time it takes to clean a residential HVAC system depends on many variables such as the size of the home, the number of systems, the extent of the contamination and the number of HVAC cleaners performing the job. Ask at least two contractors to inspect your system and give you a time estimate for your particular system. This will give you a general idea of how long the job should take as well as an idea of how thoroughly the contractor plans to do the job.QUESTION: How often should residential HVAC systems be cleaned?ANSWER: Frequency of cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the home owner. Some of the things that may lead a home owner to consider more frequent cleaning include:

Smokers in the household.

Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander.

Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.

Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home’s HVAC system.

After home renovations or remodeling.

Prior to occupancy of a new home or a home that was previously lived in. Most of the dust in a home is skin cells and if you are not the original owner of the home you have someone else’s skin cells in your duct system.

QUESTION: How should a residential HVAC be cleaned?ANSWER: The most effective way to clean air ducts and ventilation systems is to employ Source Removal methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor to place the system under negative pressure, through the use of a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home.

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